The DC Universe Animated Original Movies (DCUAOM; also known as DC Universe Original Movies or DC Universe Movies or DC Animated Movies) are a series of American direct-to-videosuperhero animated films based on DC Comics characters and stories. From 2007 to 2022, films were produced primarily by Warner Bros. Animation, but subsequently fell under DC Studios Animation. Many films are usually stand-alone projects that are either adaptations of popular works or original stories. From 2013 to 2020, the DC Animated Movie Universe was a subset of this series featuring several films that took place in a shared universe, influenced predominantly by "The New 52". Following the DCAMU's conclusion, the Tomorrowverse was launched the same year, beginning with Superman: Man of Tomorrow.
As of 2023, the DCUAOM line released 51 movies that made a total of $253 million in sales in the United States and Canada, an average of $5.4 million per film.[1]
The films are generally released direct-to-video, but Batman: The Killing Joke, Batman and Harley Quinn, The Death of Superman and Reign of the Supermen were also given limited releases in theaters.[2]
Featuring the Jim Corrigan version of the Spectre (Gary Cole). The short has Det. Jim Corrigan investigating the murder of a high-end movie executive, ultimately becoming the Spectre to hunt down his killers. The short features supporting cast members Alyssa Milano, Jeff Bennett, Rob Paulsen and Jon Polito.
Featuring Jamie Chung as the title character. The short follows Death as she meets a down on his luck artist named Vincent (Leonardo Nam) to help him to make peace with his inner demons.[21]
Starring Charlie Weber as the titular hero. The short sees Strange living in an asteroid mining colony with its population seeing him as an interplanetary derelict. He reveals his true nature by saving them from alien insects, while his origin story is revealed in flashbacks. Roger R. Cross, Kimberly Brooks, Ray Chase, and Fred Tatasciore also star. Butch Lukic confirmed in 2022 that the short is part of Tomorrowverse, it shows the backstory of Adam Strange featured in Green Lantern: Beware My Power.[22]
DC Showcase Animated Shorts – Batman: Death in the Family
11
Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth!
Starring Cameron Monaghan as the titular hero. The short that is based on Kamandi #29 follows Kamandi and his friends Prince Tuftan (Steve Blum) of the Tiger Kingdom and nuclear man Ben Boxer (Armen Taylor) as they are kidnapped by a gorilla cult led by Golgan (also voiced by Blum) dedicated to finding the reincarnation of their god The Mighty One. From there, they're forced into a series of harrowing challenges alongside their representative Zuma (Adam Gifford) that serve to prove their belief.[24][25] Jeremy Adams confirmed in 2022 that the short is part of the Tomorrowverse, and connects with Justice Society: World War II.[26]
Immediately following the ending of Justice League Dark: Apokolips War,[29] where the Flash travelled back in time to create a new Flashpoint, John Constantine (Matt Ryan) wakes up in the House of Mystery with no recollection of how he got there. Each room he enters, he is set upon and killed by his friends, who have become demons. When Constantine escapes from the House of Mystery, the Spectre (Lou Diamond Phillips) appears and explains that he put Constantine in the House to protect him from the punishment the universe had prepared for his time-travel violations. The House was intended to be peaceful, but Constantine's deep self-hatred and guilt transformed his friends into demons as a subconscious form of self-punishment. Subsequently, Constantine is dragged screaming into the light as he begs Spectre to kill him. After Constantine was far away, Spectre quotes "Woe to you, John Constantine".
DC Showcase Animated Shorts – Constantine: The House of Mystery
Other short filmsedit
Year
Title
Notes
2015
Nightwing and Robin
A 45-second short film set during the events of the DC Animated Movie Universe film Justice League: Throne of Atlantis. The two main characters are called upon by Batman to find and capture the Scarecrow (Michael Rosenbaum) since he had to help the Justice League. While Jason O'Mara reprises Batman in this short, only his voice is heard while Nightwing and Robin have no dialogue. Talon (who would be featured in Batman vs. Robin) makes a silent cameo in the film.[30]
Other projectsedit
Unannounced and possible projectsedit
Beyond the list of announced projects, creators involved in various levels at DC Comics have brought up names of possible future projects.
Timm has mentioned that another Batman Beyond film is a possibility,[38] and in August 2017, Tucker stated in his Twitter account that discussions about a possible Batman Beyond film occur several times at the studio,[39] while he also stated that a potential Static Shock film set in the DC Animated Universe is possible as the studio is always interested in Static.[40]
An animated film featuring characters from the Milestone Media imprint was announced at DC Fandome in October 2021. The film was set to be written by Brandon Thomas and will feature "more than one character" according to Milestone co-founder Denys Cowan. The announcement included promotional concept art of Static, Hardware, Icon, and Rocket.[44]
Cancelled projectsedit
Plans for sequels to the 2009 films Wonder Woman and Green Lantern: First Flight were shelved, as well as a planned film based on the 2003 miniseries Batgirl: Year One. Slower sales of the Wonder Woman film were cited,[45][46] although sales figures indicate that it was at least the #8 best-selling of the 25 DC Universe films released as of August 2015[update] (4 of the films that ranked higher than it include Blu-ray sales which have not been released for Wonder Woman).
In 2010, Timm stated that the production team originally planned to make an Aquaman film,[47] but at the end, the executives of Warner Bros. cancelled the project because their expectations about marketing were very low.[48]
Sales figures below represent, when available, DVD and Blu-ray sales in the United States. Theatrical ticket, digital, and rental sales are not included.
^"Box Office History for DC Animated Movie Universe Movies." The Numbers. Retrieved Sep 9, 2023.
^"'The Death of Superman' and 'Reign of the Supermen' Coming to Theaters". DC. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
^Jones, Seth (June 29, 2008). "WW Chicago: "Batman: Gotham Knight" World Premiere". CBR.com. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
^ ab"'Superman/Batman: Apocalypse' Review". screenrant.com. September 27, 2010. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^ abcd"'Batman: Year One' Review". screenrant.com. October 9, 2011. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^ abcd"'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2' Review". screenrant.com. January 29, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^ ab"NYCC 2013: "Justice League: War" Roundtable Interviews – Jay Oliva, James Tucker, & Andrea Romano – ToonZone News". toonzone.net. October 21, 2013. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2017. [Justice League: War] is the first true "New 52" DCU that we've done. Flashpoint kind of was the old universe, and at the end we hinted at the New 52 universe. I'm hoping that somewhere down the line, we can do some other films that will hopefully connect the events from Flashpoint into Justice League: War and any other films we do in the New 52 universe, which would be kind of cool.
^ ab"Get a Sneak Peek at Batman: Assault on Arkham in a New Featurette - ComingSoon.net". comingsoon.net. May 7, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
^ abLiu, Sam [@_samliu_] (February 6, 2019). "@Adbrican Both? It is a Bruce story in inception and done with his deigns so, as he puts it, It's all head canon. The internet can discuss and make its own conclusions" (Tweet). Archived from the original on May 8, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ abDar, Taimur (April 9, 2019). "And the Adventure Continues—Talking with the Cast & Crew of JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. THE FATAL FIVE". Comics Beat. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
^Lovett, Jamie (July 22, 2023). "Justice League: Crisis on Infinite Earths Movie Announced". ComicBook. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
^Gerding, Stephen (April 13, 2017). "Watchmen Is Getting an R-Rated Animated Adaptation". CBR.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
^Perine, Aaron (July 22, 2023). "New Watchmen Movie Announced". ComicBook. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
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^Younis, Steve (June 25, 2010). ""Superman/Batman: Apocalypse" DVD Artwork". supermanhomepage.com. Retrieved June 26, 2010.
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^Collura, Scott (July 25, 2010). "SDCC 10: DC Shorts Showcase". IGN. Retrieved July 25, 2010.
^Harvey, James (October 29, 2010). "Main Cast, Crew Details For "Superman/Shazam: The Return of Black Adam"". worldsfinestonline.com. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
^Houston, Kimberly (February 20, 2011). "Bruce Timm Confirms Catwoman Short with BATMAN: YEAR ONE Film; Hears Positive Buzz About GREEN LANTERN". The Daily Blam!. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
^ abcd"DC Showcase Animated Shorts to Highlight Sgt Rock, Adam Strange & More". CBR. May 7, 2019.
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^Kim, Matt (October 16, 2021). "DC Announces Four New Animated Films at DC FanDome 2021". IGN. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
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^Tucker, James (August 21, 2017). "Batman Beyond comes up occasionally in discussions. Super Max, no".
^Tucker, James (August 30, 2017). "There has always been interest in Static but it's not something I'm working on. I don't know the answer to the 2nd ? It'll be told n time".
^DeMatteis, J.M. [@JMDeMatteis] (September 19, 2017). "@An_EqualSociety Actually, I'd like to adapt my Batman story "Going Sane." I think it'd make a great movie" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Twitter.
^DeMatteis, J.M. [@JMDeMatteis] (September 20, 2017). "@An_EqualSociety A story NOT written by me? New Gods!" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Twitter.
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^Oliva, Jay [@jayoliva1] (August 30, 2017). "@An_EqualSociety @ADG800 @justiceleagueuk @justiceleaguewb @WonderWomanFilm Hi Joaquin! I have no idea. My last DC Animated film was JL Dark. I'm no longer at WB. I'm sure they will at some point" (Tweet). Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 21, 2022 – via Twitter.
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